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When Bob joined several friends in a sort of musical group and tried to involve him in this venture, they acted so stupidly, so messy (as true punks) that initially he had to assume the responsibilities of a manager. The idea of creation was born spontaneously, during one of the gatherings in the kitchen with guitarist Gary Roberts (Garry Roberts). Gary was the soloist on guitar and a microphone, Bob was engaged in the administrator's job, but eventually took over as lead vocalist, the remaining members changed as in a kaleidoscope, until he finally met a steady core of friends and relatives. Spontaneously created group also spontaneously chose the name after finding the pages of the biography of Woody Guthrie (Woody Guthrie) "Bound For Glory" a remarkable expression of Boomtown Rats - so in a book called Guthrie's gang of urban beggars and the dregs of society.

Company Bob and Gary were: keyboardist Johnny Fingers (Johnnie Fingers), guitarist Gerry Cott (Gerry Cott), bassist Pete Brikett (Pete Briquette) and drummer Simon Crowe (Simon Crowe). In this composition, in October 1976 Boomtown Rats arrived in London, "the headquarters of the" British show business, to find its place into the emerging punk rock movement. In August 1977 they released their first single, "Lookin 'After No. 1." The song is not entirely justified bahvalskoe name and does not become a number one hit. But it was noted in the UK Top 40, setting off a long string of singles, enjoyed the same popularity.

The debut album "The Boomtown Rats" was published in September 1977 while in England and America. If the fellow, and showed some interest in this model is not the worst of punk rock, the American public has retained complete indifference. Over time, the situation began to change. The second album "Tonic for the Troops" (1978) catapulted the hit single "Like Clockwork", who finished in the top ten. And the next single, "Rat Trap" made such a strong impression on the British music fans, which hit # 1.

This composition Geldof, even after many years will be considered one of the most important command in the catalog, written and recorded - like the rest of the songs of those years - as the musicians themselves saw fit, regardless of market appeal. Then the band members have not decided to end with his own style, still looking for itself, overcoming a lot of different influences - from Bob Marley (Bob Marley) and the old bluesmen to the Beatles and rockabilly. And they did it so effectively that the British muzindustriya quickly gave up: the song "Looking After No. L" is the first example of the so-called new wave, sounded on the air, and the Boomtown Rats were the first group of new wave, which appeared in the popular TV show "Top of the Pops ".

By the summer of 1979 in the asset Boomtown Rats had another leader of the charts – the song “I Don’t Like Mondays”, inspired by the history of California girls, who opened fire at random on the streets of San Diego. The single, which sold a million copies and was called the best single of the year in the UK, preceded the appearance of a third Long-play “The Fine Art of Surfacing” (1979). He was the only album the band’s career, which caused any appreciable interest in the United States.

But the interest in live performances of the ensemble each year gaining strength. Already in the first years of Dublin musicians were famous, and the ability to intrigue listeners and journalists. They invented their own dance, however, is quite confused, which is called the Boomtown Rats, Bob Geldof, and at every opportunity, urged fans to perform all of his room. The best dancers have relied prizes: it happened that as a reward handed out to spectators guts of animals. Of course, during the world tour in support of “The Fine Art of Surfacing” they have conducted themselves on the scene more impressive. The team chose not only the standard routes to Europe and America, but also toured intensively Asia, visiting India, Thailand, Hong Kong and Singapore.

After two pretty successful singles in 1980, “Someone’s Looking at You” and especially the popular “Banana Republic”, the musicians presented a new album, “Mondo Bongo”. At the residence was completed in the ranks of Boomtown Rats guitarist Gerry Cotta. Decided not to replace him and continue the search for five of us. After completing work on the fifth plate “V Deep” (1982), Bob Geldof tried his hand on the set, she appeared in the movie “Pink Floyd: The Wall”, based on the famous album Pink Floyd.

In 1983, America entered a compilation of six songs Boomtown Rats “Ratrospective”, which has caused such a minimal response to the new team work finally ceased to interest American publishers. So the next Long-play “In the Long Grass” (1985) was released in the UK. It was the latest addition to the catalog Boomtown Rats. Swan Song. In 1986, the 11-year existence of the group members decided to put the point in this story.

In May 1986, Bob Geldof was the last time comrades gathered at Boomtown Rats. Along with thirty other Irish teams they participated in the 14-hour marathon concert in Dublin, which took place in the charity event called the Self-Aid. The contribution of a musician in addressing hunger in the world, and praised the social elite, and ordinary Europeans. For the active citizenship of Bob Geldof nominated for Nobel Peace Prize, and his autobiography “Is That All?” became a bestseller.

Music is not completely gone from his life. She was present not only in the form of concerts organized by them, but as an actual opportunity for solo work. In late 1986 Bob Geldof made his debut as a solo artist, presenting the album “Deep in the Heart of Nowhere”. As is the case with the Boomtown Rats, creative musician has received a much wider resonance in his native Britain than in America. Many famous artists participated in the creation of the first album by Brian Setzer (Brian Setzer) from the group Stray Cats to Eric Clapton and Annie Lennox. Numerous and the list of sponsors was the second disk “Vegetarians of Love”, published in 1990. New songs were created under the strong influence of Irish folklore, and in the arrangements used body, accordion and violin. The commercial failure of the album does not detract from excellent quality materials and thoughtful producing.

The third solo work “The Happy Club” (1993), Geldof wrote not with individual guests, and played with the group that picked up specifically for this purpose. He drew and colleague of Boomtown Rats bassist Pete Briketta. In the compositions selected for “The Happy Club”, felt the hand of a mature artist who knows how to organize the musical space of disparate elements, crossing post-punk, pop rock, neopsihodeliyu and comic texts.

Until the late 90′s in the studio Bob Geldof barely appeared, most of the time giving the fight against hunger and poverty in African countries. He is actively involved in the project NetAid, conceived by a group of well-known artists – Bono, Bryan Ferry (Bryan Ferry), Jimmy Page (Jimmy Page), Sean Combs (Sean “Puffy” Combs aka P. Diddy) and members of Stereophonics. At this time, benefit concerts were held at three different stadiums – in London, New York and Geneva and at the same broadcast on radio, television and the Internet. The purpose of concerts was the same – to save the world from hunger.

By Bob Geldof original creation back in the new millennium, presenting the 2001 Long-play “Sex, Age and Death”. Subject sex and death was the most audacious embodiment of the composition “Pale White Girls”, tells the story of necrophilia. Overall pretty hard, sometimes aggressive attitude of songs, their dynamics and the clash of contrasts showed that the socio-political activity does not soften the heart of Bob Geldof and the music does not become for him an outlet to the lyric, and there was still one way to combat indifference, opportunism, and indulgence in violence.

In 2004, the musician was invited to participate in the development of a series of albums under the title “Under the Influence”, conceived by the label DMC Records. Each artist invited to select the songs that have had a most powerful influence, and provide a collection of handwritten notes.

Geldof has found the use of their talents in film, not only as a writer and producer of music, but as a screenwriter. He worked in tandem with Pete Brikettom, who made an excellent producer ‘career.